I stand looking on as a single individual, the only person who is not surrounded by their own. My father’s community united with tradition look at me and then back at my father, they seem sorry, as if they are all holding back a secret. Another new group of people, people I have not seen before, they are bold, beautiful people dressed in a fashion that is new to me I don’t care for fashion but I like it, they make me want to look at them more, and they know this so they just stare through me and straight onto my father and what appears to be their leader playing a game of cards.
As gossip fills the air I breathe I feel suffocated not knowing who this handsome man is playing what appears to be the last game of poker my father will ever play. They both look serious. Among all the whispers I can only hear one name being mentioned. Max. This stranger is called Max. I’m trying to fight the temptation to go over and demand answers, who is this man everyone seems so cautious of? Why does my father look so worried? I turn to the Phui-dae, father’s most loyal eldest group of friends. My questions painted all over my face. Without words we exchanged a thousand, we cannot answer these questions for you Jenny.
Then I hear “you lose!” lose? Max has just won against my father, Max’s troop look extremely pleased and awfully smug. I approach the table and the whispers from Max’s troop are not so quiet I can hear everything they are saying. That silly young girl hasn’t a clue what her father has done. Bow down and let the true king come home. Maya would be spinning in her grave. I look to them with a pleading gesture and they laugh in my face.
I feel sick I don’t know where this is going to take us but right now it doesn’t feel right. My father looks old and weak compared to this young man, I have never seen him look that way. I soon realize there’s more to this than meets the eye.
I reach the table I place my hands on the back of my father’s back. He is sweating I can feel it on my hands. Max asks for a girl as his prize for winning the game of poker. Me and my father exchange looks, he might be handsome but he’s crazy. Never. Max’s eyes meet mine and I feel butterflies racing not only in my belly but through my veins. I stop breathing for this moment. He wants me. He points and says “just your girl will do me fine” objection forced from my father makes him stand tall and he towers in front of me. Max edges closer and whispers..“I gave you time to pay your debt, for thirty years I cried your name I will not give you one more hour I cannot save you from your shame” and then I understand they know each other, but how? From thirty years ago. My heart is asking my brain the questions and I seem to be getting them right.
Before I can speak to myself any more I hear “ you left her sir to weep alone, you left her sir to face the knife” gasps from every angle of hearing, it seems time has stood still. Father tries to explain he loved this woman and with that Max glances at me and then leaves. Leaving me alone with my father sitting at a table, I cannot control it question after question is being fired at him, “who is he? What happened thirty years ago? Who died? Who do you love? You never told me you loved anyone.” I’m not even giving him a chance to answer. I’m shaking his arm but he seems so heavy. “Please father answer me” “leave me be jenny” “no,answer my questions I love you don’t shut me out, let me help” “jenny leave me alone” “but I just want to help” and with that he roars at me “GO!” and suddenly I realize everything has gone dark.
